What are Addictive Behaviors?

Drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can develop an addiction to these substances. If someone you love is using drugs or alcohol, identifying their addiction can be difficult. But if you look for certain addictive behaviors, you can know for certain.

Addictive Behaviors and Physical Signs

People stuck in the cycle of addiction need help to find their way out of the disease. If you love someone who abuses drugs or alcohol, you have limited time to talk to them about rehab. After all, drug and alcohol abuse harm the body and mind. Your loved one’s addiction can even lead to deadly consequences.

So how can you see signs of addiction? What are addictive behaviors? People with addictions to drugs or alcohol undergo both physical and behavioral changes.

Physical Signs of Substance Abuse

Drugs and alcohol affect the body’s delicate systems. In turn, these effects create outward signs that the body isn’t operating in a normal state. Some of those physical signs of substance abuse or addiction include bloodshot or glazed eyes, enlarged or tiny pupils, obvious weight changes, marks like bruises or other unusual physical changes. A drug addict abusing some substances may also appear disheveled, as outward appearance no longer seems to matter to him or her.

Behaviors of Addiction

Abusing drugs or alcohol also causes behavioral changes. The person you care about may act slightly differently or may seem like a different person, altogether. You should never ignore such changes, particularly since they could signal drug or alcohol addiction.

Some behaviors of addiction include:

Irritability or increased aggression

Attitude or personality changes

Depression or lethargy

New friendships or broken relationships

Dramatic shift in priorities or habits

Criminal activity

Financial, legal or money problems

Substances Causing Addictive Behaviors

Learning to recognize behaviors of addiction will help you better be able to see if your loved one is abusing substances. But what kind of help does he or she need? What may be the cause of these changes? Below are some substances that people most often abuse and the behavioral changes they cause.

Marijuana

Speaking loudly, oddly timed or inappropriate laughter, sleepiness, low interest, decreased motivation and weight changes are common signs of marijuana use. You will also notice glassy eyes, redness in the eyes and a sweet, burning scent on your loved one’s clothes, in their car or in their room.

Alcohol

Alcohol causes stumbling, clumsiness, slurred speech, poor judgment, dilated pupils and sleepiness. You’ll also likely notice an odor of alcohol on your loved one’s breath or from their pores. You may notice they brush their teeth more frequently or use mouthwash or breath spray often, as well, to get rid of the scent of alcohol.

Cocaine, Meth, and Crack

Cocaine, meth, crack and other stimulant drugs cause similar effects. These effects include rapid talking, hyperactivity, irritability, anxiety, euphoria, and an odd sleep schedule. Your friend or relative may also go for long periods without food or sleep. You’ll notice frequently dilated pupils, running nose and dry mouth.

Heroin

People abusing heroin may have needle marks on their bodies. They may also sleep at odd times, sweat frequently, vomit, cough and sniffle. They may twitch and skip eating. Additionally, they may have contracted pupils or their pupils do not respond to light.

Other drugs cause similar effects to all of these. But the bottom line is you will notice different behaviors in your loved one if he or she suffers from addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Get Your Loved One the Help He or She Needs

If you’re seeing these changes in your friend or relative’s behavior, you need to help him or her get treatment for addiction. Finding the right rehab isn’t as hard as you think. In fact, people from all over the Pacific Northwest turn to Crestview Recovery in Portland for their rehab treatment. Crestview Recovery offers a variety of programs for adult men and women, including: